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Halcrow Group
Halcrow Group Limited was a British engineering consultancy company. It was one of the UK's largest consultancies, specialised in the provision of planning, design and management services for infrastructure development worldwide. With interests in transportation, water, maritime and property, the company undertook commissions in over 70 countries from a network of more than 90 offices.
Established by Thomas Meik in 1868, the company quickly became involved in the maritime and railway industries across the British Isles. During the first half of the 20th century, William Halcrow led the business into new avenues of civil engineering, including deep tunnelling and hydroelectric dams. Its expertise was harnessed in many capacities throughout the Second World War, highlights include the construction of the Mulberry Harbours and consulting on the bouncing bomb. In the peacetime, Halcrow worked with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board on a new generation of hydroelectric schemes to generate power for public consumption, such as the Glen Affric scheme, as well as numerous dams in Wales to regulate water levels and supply drinking water. It was also involved in the design studies for the Channel Tunnel as well as various other railway projects, such as the Woodhead Tunnel and the Victoria line.
By 2000, Halcrow Group's British-based projects accounted for roughly 60 percent of the company's turnover while the rest came from its overseas activities. During 2011, the company was acquired by US firm CH2M Hill, and in 2013 it was announced that the Halcrow brand would eventually be discontinued. The parent rebranded the whole group to CH2M in 2015. Two years later, CH2M was subsequently acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group.
The company was founded in 1868 by civil engineer Thomas Meik, and originally bore his name, and later those of his sons, Patrick and Charles. It worked extensively on port, maritime and railway projects across the North of England, in Wales and in Scotland. During the 1890s, the business undertook the first of many international commissions.
During the first half of the 20th century, William Halcrow (later Sir William) directed the company to diversify into other areas of civil engineering, including tunnelling and hydroelectric schemes. The company was called on for various projects during the Second World War, this included the design and supervision of the construction of deep tunnel shelters, military ports, and the Mulberry Harbours (used in the D-Day landings). The company also consulted on the bouncing bomb developed by Barnes Wallis and on damage control measures during The Blitz.
After the conflict ended, Halcrow's attention was soon focused upon various schemes in Scotland. For the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, a new generation of hydroelectric schemes to generate power for public consumption was developed. The Glen Affric scheme, started in 1947, was the biggest of these; however, there were similar projects in neighbouring catchments, such as Glen Garry and Glen Moriston – the latter including one of the first underground power stations in the UK – and Strathfarrar and Kilmorack.
In Wales, Halcrow's largest works were typically related to water supply schemes, such as the Claerwen dam (completed in 1952) and the Clywedog dam (completed in 1967), which created reservoirs that controlled the water levels of various rivers as well as reliably supplying various towns and cities across the West Midlands. Halcrow also designed several railway tunnels, such as the Woodhead Tunnel (completed in 1954) and at Potters Bar (completed in 1955), as well as starting work on the new Victoria line underground line beneath central London. Halcrow was also involved in the design studies produced for the Channel Tunnel. In the aftermath of the Aberfan disaster, Halcrow was engaged by the National Coal Board to monitor the condition of various colliery spoil tips across the country.
The company's overseas work at this time included a wide range of roads, bridges and harbours in countries such as Ghana, Libya and Mozambique. Halcrow also worked on multiple dams in Venezuela, as well as a power station in Buenos Aires.
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Halcrow Group
Halcrow Group Limited was a British engineering consultancy company. It was one of the UK's largest consultancies, specialised in the provision of planning, design and management services for infrastructure development worldwide. With interests in transportation, water, maritime and property, the company undertook commissions in over 70 countries from a network of more than 90 offices.
Established by Thomas Meik in 1868, the company quickly became involved in the maritime and railway industries across the British Isles. During the first half of the 20th century, William Halcrow led the business into new avenues of civil engineering, including deep tunnelling and hydroelectric dams. Its expertise was harnessed in many capacities throughout the Second World War, highlights include the construction of the Mulberry Harbours and consulting on the bouncing bomb. In the peacetime, Halcrow worked with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board on a new generation of hydroelectric schemes to generate power for public consumption, such as the Glen Affric scheme, as well as numerous dams in Wales to regulate water levels and supply drinking water. It was also involved in the design studies for the Channel Tunnel as well as various other railway projects, such as the Woodhead Tunnel and the Victoria line.
By 2000, Halcrow Group's British-based projects accounted for roughly 60 percent of the company's turnover while the rest came from its overseas activities. During 2011, the company was acquired by US firm CH2M Hill, and in 2013 it was announced that the Halcrow brand would eventually be discontinued. The parent rebranded the whole group to CH2M in 2015. Two years later, CH2M was subsequently acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group.
The company was founded in 1868 by civil engineer Thomas Meik, and originally bore his name, and later those of his sons, Patrick and Charles. It worked extensively on port, maritime and railway projects across the North of England, in Wales and in Scotland. During the 1890s, the business undertook the first of many international commissions.
During the first half of the 20th century, William Halcrow (later Sir William) directed the company to diversify into other areas of civil engineering, including tunnelling and hydroelectric schemes. The company was called on for various projects during the Second World War, this included the design and supervision of the construction of deep tunnel shelters, military ports, and the Mulberry Harbours (used in the D-Day landings). The company also consulted on the bouncing bomb developed by Barnes Wallis and on damage control measures during The Blitz.
After the conflict ended, Halcrow's attention was soon focused upon various schemes in Scotland. For the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, a new generation of hydroelectric schemes to generate power for public consumption was developed. The Glen Affric scheme, started in 1947, was the biggest of these; however, there were similar projects in neighbouring catchments, such as Glen Garry and Glen Moriston – the latter including one of the first underground power stations in the UK – and Strathfarrar and Kilmorack.
In Wales, Halcrow's largest works were typically related to water supply schemes, such as the Claerwen dam (completed in 1952) and the Clywedog dam (completed in 1967), which created reservoirs that controlled the water levels of various rivers as well as reliably supplying various towns and cities across the West Midlands. Halcrow also designed several railway tunnels, such as the Woodhead Tunnel (completed in 1954) and at Potters Bar (completed in 1955), as well as starting work on the new Victoria line underground line beneath central London. Halcrow was also involved in the design studies produced for the Channel Tunnel. In the aftermath of the Aberfan disaster, Halcrow was engaged by the National Coal Board to monitor the condition of various colliery spoil tips across the country.
The company's overseas work at this time included a wide range of roads, bridges and harbours in countries such as Ghana, Libya and Mozambique. Halcrow also worked on multiple dams in Venezuela, as well as a power station in Buenos Aires.